The Primal Hunter Chapter 1292 - Negotiating With Frogs 101

Leaning back while savoring the spectacle, Jake held true to his longstanding principle against meddling in others' battles. He chose no faction in this clash, and although one group appeared more amenable to discussion and capable of speech, he refused to dismiss the Boglord merely for being a massive blob of muck. Such judgment would smack of deep bias.

So, he bided his time, assessing the scenario and eagerly gleaning insights into the creatures inhabiting this lesser realm called Venus. He began with the amphibious beings.

Their combat style revealed distinctly humanoid strategies, yet they lacked true enlightenment. Rather, they resembled the Simivita that Jake had slain in droves within the Pantheon of Life—a species exhibiting numerous enlightened qualities while fundamentally staying monstrous.

The pair of lithe frogs functioned as spellcasters, wielding magic unfamiliar to Jake. He fired off additional Identifies, verifying three distinct types among them.

[Venusian Virumancer – lvl 390]

[Venusian Warrior – lvl 381]

[Venusian Warrior – lvl 383]

[Venusian Shaman – lvl 395]

The Virumancer unleashed verdant, see-through spores that burrowed into the Boglord's form, swiftly withering and disintegrating struck areas—though solely affecting its vegetal components.

The Shaman focused mainly on mending wounds, sporadically unleashing varied elemental abilities. Hovering above a vast sea-like lake, it exploited the surroundings adeptly, raising waters that twisted into enormous serpentine forms. This prompted Jake to arch a brow.

Jake mused inwardly, noting the unnervingly precise anatomy of the shaman's watery serpents. Villy had endured in a forbidden zone of his homeworld as a lowly beast, so abundant local fauna, evolved for this harsh setting, seemed plausible.

Jake found it odd not to have spotted elementals yet, given the ideal habitat. Perhaps the Boglord qualified as a partial elemental? It aligned more closely with one than any other comparison.

Suddenly, amid Jake's reflections, the Boglord grew weary of the pesky frogs' assaults and bellowed a resonant drone. The sound reverberated in Jake's ears, forcing a wince despite the distance. The nearer frogs suffered worse, all repelled. Seizing the moment, the Boglord swung a colossal limb downward at blistering velocity.

Admirably, the shaman shook off the blow instantly, conjuring a vast bullfrog illusion that shielded itself and its allies. The barrier shattered, erupting in emerald radiance that repulsed the Boglord, flinging its arm skyward.

In unison, the three Venusian Warriors activated identical skills; their clubs shimmered green, summoning overlays that ballooned them over a hundredfold, sprouting vicious barbs.

They struck as one, and just prior to contact, the Virumancer wove a spell encasing the barbed clubs in viral toxin.

The trio's blows connected undefended, hurling the behemoth backward more than a hundred kilometers. For an instant, it teetered toward its oceanic domain.

Regaining balance, the Boglord pivoted slowly toward the distant quintet. Jake observed the Shaman and Virumancer promptly channeling spells, prescient of the impending assault.

And wisely so.

The Boglord's form surged with amplified might as its torso undulated. Foliage surged outward, proliferating until a enormous bloom unfurled from its chest. Energy coalesced at the flower's heart briefly before blasting forth, widening Jake's eyes.

A torrent of annihilating force devoured the terrain, spanning broader than the Boglord. It hurtled toward the frogs almost immediately, yet spatial magic enveloped them, teleporting the group thousands of kilometers beyond the blast's reach.

The ray scarred the earth in a colossal ring stretching to the horizon's edge, persisting seconds before fading. The chest flower retracted gradually, reabsorbing into the titanic B-grade entity.

Jake observed, convinced that post-evolution, he'd still avoid that path. Full power might let him deflect and endure, but the blatant wind-up made risking it foolish.

Glancing at the Boglord, the effort had visibly drained it. Post-flower integration, it eyed the frogs momentarily before descending into the immense lake.

Jake anticipated a pursuit from the frogs, yet they appeared relieved. They monitored the Boglord's full submersion before relaxing vigilance.

Jake pondered, baffled. They had initiated the assault, yet yielded swiftly upon retreat. The Boglord's displayed aura suggested inevitable defeat, but daunting odds never deterred effort.

With combat concluded, Jake neared the five frogs. Curiosity overwhelmed him; assaulting weary, intelligent beings clashed with his style. He craved knowledge of this minor world.

Jake deliberately revealed himself, approaching conspicuously at a measured, non-threatening pace. Dropping Unseen Hunter, the frogs detected him instantly, snapping back to alertness.

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They conferred briefly; warriors advanced, casters readied rearward. Jake halted, raising palms in a hoped-for peace gesture.

“I’m not here to fight, just talk,” Jake declared, empowering his voice against the sound-dampening atmosphere. He trusted Myriad Tongues to bridge their alien tongue from this isolated realm.

The frogs conferred momentarily before the Shaman responded, defying Jake's expectations entirely.

“Excuse us for our suspicious disposition, stranger, but we find ourselves wholly unfamiliar with your visage and kin, and in such a scenario, we find prioritizing safety most wise,” the Shaman intoned in an androgynous voice—feminine, Jake guessed. The startling formality evoked tea-sipping etiquette.

“That’s fair,” Jake replied, skipping mimicry. “Allow me to introduce myself. I’m a hunter from the human race, in case you’ve heard about it, and I stumbled upon this scene of you fighting the Boglord. I’m new here, and seeing as the large fellow retreated, I decided to approach you five to hopefully gain some information about this world.”

Transparency suited alliance-building with these frogs. His candor yielded instant reactions: utter ignorance of humans, bewilderment at his novelty and informational quest.

“If you desire information, I do believe we can reach a mutually beneficial agreement. I must readily admit that we find ourselves unfamiliar with your kind and the meaning of your words when you claim you are new to the world. Could you elaborate?” the Shaman inquired.

“I came from somewhere very different to here, somewhere incredibly far away,” Jake explained, veiling the minor world's nature atop former Venus. “As for humans, we are many where I come from. However, in the same vein that you are unfamiliar with my kind, I have never encountered a Venusian before today, and would love to hear more about your race.”

The frogs huddled briefly before the Shaman faced Jake anew.

“Could you tell me how many companions you have ventured here with?”

Fearing a concealed force, Jake dispelled it promptly.

“I came alone,” he affirmed.

“Truly? No entourage?” the Shaman pressed skeptically. “Traveling between islands isn’t safe in the best of circumstances. Are we perhaps mistaken to assume you have come here in a diplomatic capacity?”

They mistook him for an envoy, intriguing Jake on Venusian diplomacy. It implied factions of intelligent beings. Crucially, how expansive was this Minor World?

Jake recalled no fixed sizes for Minor Worlds—mere specks versus true universes, yet potentially planet-spanning or vaster mortally. He'd underestimated, linking it to planetary replacement, but now reconsidered.

Composing himself, Jake responded.

“No, I’m a lone wanderer out on adventure,”

The ideal: reassured sans army, his revealed level averting alarm—lessons from past encounters. Calmness might foster dialogue, unveiling world secrets. Conversely, vulnerability could invite elimination of the enigma—or outright hostility masked by courtesy, given their Boglord skirmish.

The frogs conferred, exuding puzzlement. Soon, the Shaman spoke again.

“Excuse our skepticism, but we find it highly improbable that a singular individual who is still in the very early stages of B-grade is traveling alone, especially seeing as you even dared venture between islands.”

A valid doubt; inter-island voids hid perils beyond this haven.

“As I said, I’m entirely new to this place, and I’m unaware of the dangers that lurk here,” Jake insisted, struggling to convey his thrill-seeking nature.

Unconvinced, proof loomed necessary. Aura tempted, but intimidation clashed with de-escalation—subtly signaling peril only if provoked.

“While I am indeed only in the very early stage of B-grade, I am rather proficient in staying safe when exploring unknown places. Do recall that despite me observing your battle with the Boglord, I only allowed you to be aware of my presence once the fight was done. When it comes to stealth and escape, I dare say that few can catch me,” Jake elaborated truthfully; evasion was his forte, combat optional.

This sparked deliberation, glances exchanged. The Shaman soon replied.

“Okay, we have chosen to temporarily believe you are not here with any nefarious motives, but that does beg the question: what is your motive for coming here? Is it truly simple exploration, or do you have some grander objective in mind?” the Shaman probed astutely.

“It’s truly just exploration; however, I will not hide from you that there is a good chance others like me will also come to this place, with my experience setting a strong precedent for how they may act here in the future,” Jake admitted, his words laced with implicit warning.

“I see, that makes me conclude that while your presence here is as an individual explorer, you may ultimately end up representing a greater force,” the Shaman assented thoughtfully, then continued. “With that in consideration, we would like to courteously extend an invitation to visit our home. I believe conversing there will be not only a lot more comfortable but also significantly safer.”

Jake grinned under his mask, pleased at steering clear of violence. Fortune favored their civility, intellect, and social sophistication—unlike many faux-civilized humanoids.

“I’ll gladly accept that invitation,” Jake agreed with a nod.

“Excellent, now please, let us not speak with such space between one another anymore,” the Shaman urged.

Jake nodded, validating his agility with three swift steps, materializing before them—startling the group mildly.

“You certainly didn’t oversell your prowess in the movement arts,” the Shaman remarked amiably, inclining its head. “I would speak more, but let us return first. I am certain the Oracle would be more than happy to personally meet you.”

“Lead the way,” Jake replied, eager for frog society—and perhaps tea, given the vibes.